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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBudget Comm 02/25/2025Budget Subcommittee Meeting Minutes February 25, 2025 I % " ; n Present: Sara Walsh, Jack Cooney, Steve Schoonveld, Lynn Cavicchi, Walter,W lk'and fVIaureen _Doherty were present in the Community Room at Public Safety. Also Present: Matt Violette, Kevin Dumas, Teresa Murphy and Ed Donogh"25 (A i (n A o, r School Committee Members Present: Steve Schoonveld, Lynn Cavicchi, Jenn Walsh, Vivian Webster and Jenifer Sellon were present Finance Committee Members Present: Sara Walsh, Scott Feely, Greta Thurston, Ryan Martin and Jack Cooney and Melinda Tarsi-Goldfien were present Nor Present: Michael Flaherty Select Board Members Present: Maureen Doherty, Brendan Roche and Walter Wilk were present. Brendan Roche was not present at the start of the meeting but arrived at 6:3913M. Not Present: Michael A. Trowbridge and Diana Bren 1. Open Meeting Ms. Sara Walsh called the Budget Subcommittee Meeting to order at 6:34131M. 2. Select Board, School Committee, Finance Committee Meetings Open Ms. Sara Walsh stated that the Finance Committee meeting was called to order at 6:3513M. The School Committee meeting was called to order at 6:35 PM by Mr. Steve Schoonveld. There was not a quorum of Select Board members so the meeting was not called to order until later, please see in the minutes below. 3. Select Board Agenda Item: a. Discussion and Consideration to Include an Article for the Annual Town Meeting Warrant that will Provide a Budget Option Budget that Will Require Proposition 2 Yz Override to Cover Town and School Operating Expenses to begin July 1, 2025. This item was skipped until later in the meeting. Motion: To Include an Article for the Annual Town Meeting Warrant that will Provide a Budget Option Budget that Will Require Proposition 2 % Override to Cover Town and School Operating Expenses to begin July 1, 2025. (Wilk/Roche) Passes 3:0 4. Update on FY 26 Budget Scenarios Mr. Dumas stated that the handout is an extension of where the budget was the last time the Board/Committees met. He stated that the Economic Development Director position was removed and a full time Building Inspector was reduced to part time. He stated that the custodial position for the COA/Library building was also reduced and a contractor cleaning service will be used instead. He then stated that the Police and Fire new positions were also removed but those two positions are included in an override budget. There has also been a savings in the property and casualty insurance to a seven percent increase instead of the nine percent that was previously budgeted. He then noted that one full time position was eliminated at highway and he further noted some other expenses that would be cut like seasonal employees for highway, landscape at the train station and grass clipping along Route 140. Mr. Brendan Roche arrived at 6:39PM. Mr. Dumas continued with other items to reduce the deficit which included reduction of cleaning services of buildings from five days to three days, reduction of technical equipment, reduction of hours of the Mansfield Green to eight hours a week and reduction of two full time employees. He also noted there is savings to the Southeastern Regional High School Assessment. The Select board meeting was called to order at 6:41PM by Ms. Doherty with three members present. Ms. Walsh then asked if there were any questions. There were questions asked of Mr. Dumas and Mr. Violette related to the reductions and there was discussion around how those decisions were made. Ms. Murphy was then asked to share information on the reductions on the School side. Ms. Murphy stated that they have increased athletic user fees, usage of the student transportation revolving fund, and utilization of circuit breaker funds. She stated that there will be reductions in twelve to seventeen employees as well as changes to auxiliary services. She stated that she would not be going into specifics but these will be forthcoming soon as there are contract notices that need to be given now and that she cannot wait for the decision of the override passing. She anticipates that there would be increases to classroom sizes and they are closely looking at the enrollment numbers for Kindergarten. The Committee members asked questions about the impacts of these changes and the use of circuit breakers. Trash Fee — In or Out Ms. Walsh then gave Mr. Dumas the floor to speak about the solid waste fee. He stated that he recommended putting the trash fee into the override because it would benefit the end user because it is spread out over the entire tax base. Mr. Feely disagreed and stated that he does not think it should stay in the override because the businesses will then have to pay twice for trash. Mr. Wilk commented that the tax shift should help with that but Mr. Feely replied the Town doesn't do a good job with that. Ms, Thurston asked what amount is disposal and what is pick up and Mr. Dumas thought it was about half of the $2.5 million cost. Mr. Violette said there are communities paying double than what Mansfield is paying. The Chair then asked to go back to agenda item number three for the Select Board to take a vote on adding an override article to the Annual Town Meeting Warrant. 5. Review and Set Calendar and Dates for Public Forums and Committee/Board Meetings February 25th through May 30eh Mr. Violette then reviewed a list of proposed dates. Ms. Walsh asked for the March 20th Finance Committee meeting be added to the list of regularly scheduled meetings. He stated that there is a Tri- Board meeting scheduled for March 26"1and the first public forum to be at the COA the first week of April. He then stated that they are also looking at Saturday, April 511 at the High School Auditorium and then two evening meetings the week of April 7th. He then stated that Wednesday, April 301h will be Annual Town Meeting and then the Town Election on May 131h. Mr. Schoonveld stated that the School Committee will be taking a vote at their March 25th meeting and would like to have the Finance Committee's recommendation for that meeting. Mr. Martin stated that it would be hard to vote without having the public forums first. Mr. Feely stated that it would be difficult to take the opinions from the public forums on whether to include the trash fee or not. Mr. Schoonveld agreed and stated that they could vote on Articles 1 and 2 which are balanced budget and then could later consider Article 3 the override budget. Mr. Violette believed the purpose of the forums was to educate the residents not to find out what the override amount should be. Mr. Wilk stated it was for educating. Mr. Feely reiterated that before there are any forums a number of the override has to be known and each presentation at the forums needs to be the same and no one disagreed. 6. Review FAQs and discussion on communication planning Mr. Dumas stated that he will be sending out the FAQ document because he still has updates to make from the last meeting. He explained that that document contains about thirty questions about overrides. He said it has an introduction and then answers questions about why the Town is seeking an override, the long-term considerations and what happens if it does not pass. He stated that he is working on a presentation that will be done by the next Tri-Board meeting and to have it ready for the forums. Mr. Dumas also stated that each Board will have a part of the presentation so it is a collective forum. Mr. Feely stated that it is important for committee members to be present to answer questions that the Town employees might not be able to answer. 7. Next Steps Mr. Dumas asked for comments and feedback by March 1411 on the FAQ document and Ms. Walsh asked for that date to be March 7th. Mr. Violette stated that he will re -send the timeline of events. Mr. Dumas then stated that for media he has noted website, message boards, Sun Chronicle Newspaper and special inserts. Ms. Doherty also asked that there be messaging on the big boards when you walk into Town Hall. Ms. Walsh then asked if the rules of what can be said and not said can be sent to the group again. B. Public Comment There were no public comments. 9. Any Items Not Known within 48 Hours There were no items. 10. Select Board, School Committee, Finance Committee Meeting Close Finance Committee: Motion: To adjourn the Finance Committee meeting of February 25, 2025 at 8:2713M, (Martin/Feely) Passes 6:0 School Committee: Motion: To adjourn the School Committee meeting of February 25, 2025 at 8:2713M. (J. Walsh/Sellon) Passes 5:0 Select Board: Motion: To adjourn the Select Board meeting of February 25, 2025 at 8:2713M. (Roche/Wilk) Passes 3:0 11. Adjourn Motion: To adjourn the Budget SubCommittee meeting of February 25, 2025 at 8:2713M. (Doherty/Schoonveld) Passes 6:0 5— _ignaeure Date Minutes prepared by Carrie Champagne